Although it’s already Week 3 of the All American Quarter Horse Congress according to the show schedule, for the Western Pleasure, Hunter Under Saddle and All Around exhibitors, the show is just getting underway. Monday and Tuesday saw several AQHA classes and Limited futurity finals take place..
The ‘Belle” of Two Year Old Limited Western Pleasure
On Tuesday, Denton DeBuhr and Karen Boxell started their 2019 Congress with a win in the Limited finals of the Two Year Old Western Pleasure Stakes. Denton showed Mamma Made Martinis, a roan filly that Denton’s brother, Drew started under saddle.
“We raised her at Richland Ranch,” Karen said. “She is by The Best Martini and out of a Zippos Mr Goodbar mare, and we call her Belle. She’s always been a super sweet filly, and Drew had showed her earlier this summer at some of the shows. We decided to have Denton show her to be eligible for the Limited division of the Two Year Old class.”
The Boxells had busy but successful day. Karen’s husband John showed Lu Johnny for owner Douglas Ronk to win the Limited Open Performance Halter Geldings.
Hey There, A Longe Line Champion!
Mike Tivoli made the most of the time he spent with Hey There Boys. “I had him for three weeks,” Mike said. “They asked me if I thought we could do it, and I said, let’s try it.”
Anthony Leier had the filly by Iron Enterprise and out of Boys Move Over in his barn for basic manners and ground work, including work in the round pen, but she had not been on the line before Mike started working with her. With her soft long stride and sweepy movement, she quickly moved to the head of the class of 22.
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Oh Henry, Limited Non-Pro Maturity Hunter Under Saddle Champion
Megan East Hogan and Brian Isbell-Garcia didn’t hesitate to bring five year old APHA gelding Al Bet Ur Two Faced to the Congress to show in the Limited Open and Open Maturity Hunter Under Saddle and the Non-Pro and Limited Non-Pro Maturity Hunter Under Saddle. They checked the first class off their list with a Congress championship in the Limited Non-Pro Hunter Under Saddle Maturity.
“I showed him here as a three year old, and he wasn’t quite ready yet,” Megan said. “But he’s matured so much and he’s just so much fun to show. We raised him, and he’s out of my show mare, so he’s very special to me. I’ve waited a long time for a horse like him.”
By Allocate Your Assets, the gelding known as Henry also has a special place for Brian. “I owned and showed his sire, Allocate Your Assets, and he is so much like his dad,” Brian said. “He’s so sold and it’s so easy for him. He has a great feel, and he’s just so freaky legged. Megan did a fantastic job showing him too.”
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Prescott Wins Junior Hunter Under Saddle
Some familiar faces led the top of the class in AQHA and NSBA Senior Hunter Under Saddle when Beth Case rode Couture Blue Genes to the win for owner Debbie Hodde. NSBA’s 2018 Horse Of The Year was in winning form through a go-round and finals to earn the championship.
“When he’s good, you can just sit there and look around and show him,” Beth said of the gelding known as Prescott. “He’s very sweet and loving, but he can be opinionated, and a little obnoxious. I blame that on Debbie, because I didn’t start working with him until September of his two year old year,” laughed Beth.
Beth picked Prescott out of a video of yearlings Debbie shared on Facebook. “I tried to buy him, but Debbie tried to sell me her other prospect,” Beth said. “I was happy to get to train him, because I had shown both his mother, Only Blue Couture, and his grand dam, Blue Couture.” Prescott is the third generation of Debbie Hodde’s breeding program and is by Allocate Your Assets.
Not Just Anyhoo Wins Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle Maturity
More familiar faces stepped to the front of the line to win the Limited Open Hunter Under Saddle Maturity when Not Just Anyhoo and his owner Rebecca Kazakevicius won the Congress title.
“Horton has had almost a year off, and he’s come back better than ever,” Rebecca said. “This is the most fun I’ve ever had showing him. He’s gotten so much better the older he’s been.”
The brisk Ohio weather caused Rebecca to make a split-second decision that paid off. “The wind had picked up outside, so I hurried into the make-up pen, and I saw a spot to go in the arena, so we just trotted in,” she said. “You have to be brave to go in first, but he has such a big stride that he makes you confident, so I just went into the pen.”
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KM Suddenly So Easy Wins Senior Western Pleasure
Casey Willis and KM Suddenly So Easy made it look easy when they won the Congress championship in Senior Western Pleasure. Showing for Masterson Farms LLC, ‘Penelope’ showed in one of three splits as well as a finals to earn the title.
“I think she was better in the finals than she was in her split. She can sometimes be a little quirky, but she looks good doing it,” noted Casey. The six year old mare is by the Mastersons’ stallion RL Best Of Sudden.
“She loves being a show horse,” noted Ken Masterson. “She will be going to the AQHA World Show. She won the two year old class and the Junior Western Pleasure, so now we’re going to shoot for the Senior Western Pleasure title.”
Penelope has already produced two foals: a yearling by the Mastersons’ stallion The Lopin Machine and one by Blazing Hot. She has two foals coming in 2020 by The Lopin Machine.
Thursday will see Trail, Hunter Under Saddle, Hunt Seat Equitation, Western Pleasure and Youth Halter Mares throughout the day. The All American Quarter Horse Congress continues through Sunday, October 27.
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